DENVER — Coach Jared Bednar confirmed Tuesday morning that Mackenzie Blackwood’s rehabilitation from offseason surgery to repair a lower-body injury progressed more slowly than the organization initially anticipated.
As detailed in my earlier coverage for Mile High Hockey, Blackwood was seen taking shots on September 5 at Family Sports Center during the final minutes of an optional skate. He participated in the following sessions in a limited capacity, with Scott Wedgewood absorbing the bulk of the reps, a disparity that prompted some rinkside observers to question Blackwood’s health. Roughly a week later, he appeared in an injured-skate group, and the Vegas Golden Knights’ broadcast of a preseason game against Colorado on September 30 confirmed he had undergone surgery. However, those who witnessed Blackwood’s prior skates had already noticed he was struggling and appeared to be in pain while trying to push off his right leg. He rejoined the main group on October 6 but ultimately missed the entirety of training camp and the preseason.
Bednar told The Hockey News after morning skate that Blackwood did have a setback in his initial recovery.
“He was slow moving with his rehab throughout the whole course of the summer,” he stated. “He got on the ice in early August, and things weren’t feeling as good as what they probably should’ve been.
“So we reevaluated him; he got looked at by a couple of different people and changed his rehab and gave us a new timeline on his return. No real complications since that point.”
Blackwood Rusty, But Improving
Blackwood made his season debut Saturday, turning aside 20 shots in a 3–2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old, who was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, also served as backup to Scott Wedgewood in Friday’s 4–2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Wedgewood, however, will get the start against the Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. MT on Altitude+, TNT, HBO Max, truTV).
Bednar acknowledged that Blackwood is still shaking off some rust but noted that this week of practice should help him regain his timing and sharpness ahead of a road series against the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.
“He missed most of training camp; he’s been working kind of on his own and lacking team practice time at this point, so that’s why I think this week will be very good for him, practice yesterday; he got some work in today, we’re practicing again tomorrow and Friday, so it’s the most practices we’ve had all year, so I think that will help him get sort of used to game situations and he’ll be ready to go for the weekend.”
In 37 starts for the Avalanche last season, following his acquisition in a trade from the San Jose Sharks, Blackwood posted a career-best 2.33 goals against average and a .913 save percentage, compiling a 22-12-3 record.
Tonight's Game
As aforementioned, Wedgewood will get the start. In 11 starts this season, he's compiled a record of 7-1-2 with a 2.55 GAA and a .900 save percentage. We'll see if the 33-year-old is able to regain his form from the first couple of games of the season.
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On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo welcome the official beginning of the offseason, as the 2026 Mets begin to take shape.
First up, the guys recap the World Series and look for lessons to learn from the Dodgers' success, then discuss the free agencies of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, the return of A.J. Minter, as well as the prospect of Justin Willard as the team’s new pitching coach.
Then, Connor and Joe do a deep dive into several free agent options for the Mets in the position player group.
The show then goes Down on the Farm for a report on pitcher Jonathan Santucci, and answers Mailbag questions about the bullpen, the Dodgers being a threat to sign Diaz, trading for Vinnie Pasquantino, pursuing Alex Bregman and Josh Naylor, and which Mets player should enter the tournament to be John Cena’s final opponent in WWE.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This will be the second managerial gig of Weiss’ career. The 14-year big leaguer and 1988 AL Rookie of the Year helmed the Colorado Rockies, for whom he played four years, from 2013-16. That tenure was decidedly unfruitful, as Weiss posted a 283-365 record with an undermanned roster in Denver. After a year off, he joined the Braves as Snitker’s right-hand man for the 2018 season. Since then, the goateed 61-year-old has been a steady presence and key character during this extremely prosperous period of Atlanta baseball.
As such, his hiring represents cultural continuity for a Braves team coming off its worst season since 2017. Atlanta finished a distant fourth in the NL East, with a paltry 76-86 record. In an embarrassingly weak National League field — the Reds made the playoffs, despite being just four games over .500 — the Braves concluded the campaign seven games adrift in the standings.
Injuries and underperformance were dual culprits behind Atlanta’s disappointing 2025. Ronald Acuña Jr., Sean Murphy, Austin Riley, Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo López all missed significant chunks of time. Michael Harris II and Marcell Ozuna took steps back offensively. Spencer Strider failed to rediscover his peak form after missing all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Major free-agent signing Jurickson Profar was limited to 80 games after being hit with a PED suspension late in spring training.
So now Weiss is tasked with getting things back on track for a franchise that made seven consecutive postseasons, including winning six NL East titles, between 2018-24. It certainly doesn’t look like the most imposing turnaround job in MLB history; this Braves roster still has a plethora of enviable pieces. Simply put, another October spent on vacation would be considered a massive disappointment.
By promoting from within, the Braves and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos are effectively doubling down on the status quo. Weiss is a known commodity. He knows the organization, and the organization knows him. He has been with the big-league club longer than every current Braves player except Ozzie Albies.
Critically, the players respect Weiss and listen to what he has to say. For an outside hire, that would have been an open question — or at least a process. Instead, the Braves can plug and play. It’s a sign that Antholopolous and his very small inner circle view 2025 as an aberration, not the start of a trend.
Weiss and his predecessor are, obviously, their own men. But both are cut from a gruff, hold-no-punches, old-school cloth. Like Snitker, Weiss is direct, honest, unapologetic. But while Snitker was no dinosaur, expect the new guy to be a bit more nimble with the analytical intricacies of modern baseball. Weiss’ hiring also means that Atlanta’s 2026 coaching staff will likely feature many of the same characters as in years past, though his bench coach role will need filling.
That it took more than a month between Snitker’s stepping down and Weiss’ stepping in is undeniably compelling. This was far from a preordained succession plan, even though Snitker was at Weiss’ introductory news conference on Tuesday. In the time since Snitker announced his retirement on Oct. 1, the Rangers, Angels, Giants, Twins, Nationals and Orioles all introduced new managers. That implies that Anthopoulos and Co., at the very least, discussed and considered making an outside hire.
But while a number of coaches were linked to this job — Tigers bench Coach George Lombard, Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehman, former Mets bench coach and big-league skipper John Gibbons — the buttoned-up nature of Atlanta’s front office has thus far prevented news of any interviews from leaking to the public.
That is, from a pessimist’s perspective, the biggest critique of Weiss’ promotion. The Braves have grown increasingly insular in recent years. That consistency can be valuable, but it also heightens the risk of an institution growing stale and stagnant. Weiss isn’t likely to arrive with any groundbreaking, new ideas — something that might have been helpful for an Atlanta team trying to keep pace in a rapidly evolving baseball world.
He is more of the same, which, considering how successful the Braves have been in recent years, might a good thing.
The Mets continue adding to their pitching depth early this offseason.
The team announced on Tuesday that they are bringing back LHP Brandon Waddell on a one-year major league deal.
Waddell returns to Queens after making 11 appearances with the team last season.
The 31-year-old southpaw spent the majority of the year down in Triple-A Syracuse after signing on a minor league deal, but he was called upon to make spot starts and provide innings out of the bullpen down the stretch.
He pitched to a 3.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 22 strikeouts across 31.1 innings at the big league level.
Waddell will now compete for a spot as a bulk arm in what figures to be a revamped Mets bullpen in spring training.
Tuesday’s NHL slate features ten games packed with marquee matchups, promising high-energy action, dramatic finishes, and highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most intriguing contests pits the rising Detroit Red Wings against one of the Western Conference’s elite, the Vegas Golden Knights, with a familiar face from Detroit’s past, former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner, adding extra intrigue.
For those new to our betting challenge, here’s the deal. We start with a modest bankroll and aim to grow it through smart, data-driven picks. In previous runs, we’ve turned just $10 into triple-digit returns. Tonight, our same-game parlay centers on the Detroit-Vegas matchup, offering a prime opportunity to build on our current bankroll of $264.60. With our first major milestone of $1,000 within reach, a mark we’ve hit before, we’re looking to ride this hot streak all the way back.
All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
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Picks: Golden Knights ML + Mitch Marner Anytime Goal (+240)
The Red Wings have managed to edge out two wins in their last three games, both in shootouts against the Sharks and Kings. However, their luck may run out when they face a Golden Knights team coming off three days of rest and led by superstar winger Mitch Marner, who has historically given Detroit trouble.
For those looking to play it safe tonight, a bet on Marner recording a point and a Golden Knights win would be ideal. Unfortunately, BetMGM currently doesn’t offer that option, so the focus shifts to Marner’s goal-scoring prowess, which has been on full display against Detroit. In 28 career games versus the Red Wings, Marner has 18 goals and 19 assists (37 points), including 11 multi-point performances and a streak of five straight games with points heading into Tuesday’s matchup. Over his last 12 games against Detroit alone, he’s tallied 12 goals and 11 assists (23 points), scoring in nine of his last 14 contests.
This season, Marner has only scored in two games, totaling three goals, but he’ll look to take advantage of a familiar foe. Detroit, while winning games, has struggled defensively, allowing 27 goals over its last seven contests, the second-most in the league over that span.
The Red Wings will likely keep this game competitive, riding the momentum from winning four of their last five, including a remarkable six-goal comeback against the St. Louis Blues after trailing 4-0 in the second period. With an 8-5 record against the spread this season, Detroit could cover again, but Vegas is expected to eke out a narrow victory, fueled by Marner’s offensive firepower.
A $264.60 wager on the Golden Knights and Marner to score at +240 odds cashed for a $635.04 profit, pushing the total payout to $899.64 in return. With a loaded NHL slate ahead, it’s the perfect time to ride the momentum and keep stacking that bankroll.
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It's been a long time since the Detroit Red Wings had won eight games in the month of October. In fact, the last time it happened was 18 years ago in 2007, which was the beginning of their most recent Stanley Cup-winning season.
In fact, before this October, the Red Wings had won eight games during that month only four times in their century-long history. Three of those occasions resulted in a Stanley Cup win.
Currently, the Red Wings are 4-3 away from Little Caesars Arena through their first seven road games. The last time they had a winning record on the road was the 2015-16 campaign, which was both the rookie season for Dylan Larkin and also the last time the Red Wings played beyond the 82nd game of the regular season.
Their ongoing road trip has been a success, having won three of four games with one last tilt on deck on Tuesday evening at T-Mobile Arena against the Vegas Golden Knights (10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
Just because they're assured a winning record during the five-game trip regardless of Tuesday's result doesn't mean they're already looking ahead, however.
“The trip’s not over, it’s like we’re putting a bow on it, and there’s nothing worse than that," head coach Todd McLellan said.
“You classify it as a successful trip to this point, but there’s a lot of teams in the league that will go 3-2 on a five-game road trip and you just become average if you just blend in.”
The Red Wings have been determined not to be a team that simply just blends in this time around. They were directly challenged by McLellan following their disappointing 5-1 loss in their Home Opener, and they responded with five straight wins.
While it hasn't been completely smooth sailing since then, their 9-4 mark through 13 games is good for second overall in the Atlantic Division. They have the same number of points (18) as the Montreal Canadiens, who have a game in hand.
Nothing is a sure thing in the NHL these days. The Red Wings proved that last month against the St. Louis Blues, who held a 4-0 lead on Oct. 25 before Detroit stormed back with six unanswered goals, just the fifth time in their history that they claimed victory after initially trailing by four goals.
But the fact that the Red Wings have now twice accomplished something that had previously occurred only four previous times in their history bodes well for what they could potentially accomplish in their centennial campaign.
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A league that hasn’t won a national championship in two decades and scraps for a piece of the spotlight that shines brighter on the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference is basking in the possibility.
The 25-year-old right winger didn't crack the Canucks' lineup out of training camp, instead playing 10 games for their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, B.C. He put up a goal and three assists for four points and a minus-7 rating.
The ninth overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft has bounced between Russia and the NHL over the years, but just hasn't replicated his scoring from overseas in North America.
In his draft year, Kravtsov cracked Chelyabinsk's KHL lineup after producing well in the junior and second-tier levels. In the following campaign, he had 21 points in 50 KHL games, as well as six points in seven matches at the 2019 world juniors for bronze-winning Team Russia.
Fast forward to 2020-21, and after playing most of the season in the KHL, recording 24 points in 49 games, he got his first shot in the NHL with the New York Rangers in April 2021.
In his rookie NHL campaign, however, the former top prospect had only two goals and two assists for four points and a minus-6 rating in 20 games while logging 12:24 of ice time per game.
In 2021-22, Kravtsov returned to the KHL, recording 13 points in 19 games. But he got another shot in the NHL in 2022-23, appearing in 28 matches for the Blueshirts.
On Feb. 25, 2023, the Rangers traded Kravtsov to the Canucks in exchange for William Lockwood and a seventh-round draft pick. Kravtsov had three goals and six points in 28 games by that point in the season.
But in Vancouver, Kravtsov's ice time fell from 11:25 to 10:50 per game, and he had a goal and an assist in 16 games.
In 2023-24 and 2024-25, Kravtsov played in the KHL for Chelyabinsk, posting 34 and 58 points, respectively. He even had the KHL's best plus-minus last year, at plus-31.
On Aug. 5 of this year, Kravtsov signed a one-year, two-way contract to return to the Canucks organization. In two pre-season games for Vancouver, he had five shots and a minus-two rating.
Now, it's uncertain whether the 6-foot-3, 186-pound right winger will ever play in the NHL again and expand on his six goals and 12 points in 64 career games.
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Fans lined the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the Dodgers' World Series championship parade and celebration. (Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Out in Wisconsin's state capital, where the orange leaves are falling and every other person seems to wear the red and white of the University of Wisconsin Badgers, the pride and pain of rooting for the Dodgers in 2025 played out in the household of Carolina Sarmiento and Revel Sims.
They're urban planning professors, Southern California natives — he's from Eagle Rock, she's from Santa Ana; they met at UCLA — and longtime friends of mine who have lived in Madison for a decade but are still involved in immigrant and anti-gentrification activism back home. I visited them recently as part of a speaking tour of Midwestern colleges and found myself in the middle of a debate that passed through the lives of too many people we know back home.
It's one that's unlikely to completely fade away no matter how many rings and parades the Boys in Blue rack up:
Is it OK to, well, revel, in this year's World Series champs?
On one hand the Dodgers won back-to-back titles for their first time ever and became the first team to do so in a generation. The squad looked like Los Angeles at its best: people from across the world who set aside their egos to win and bring joy to millions of Angelenos in a most difficult year for the City of Angels.
L.A., a city long synonymous with winning — the weather, the teams, the people, the food — has suffered a terrible losing streak that started with the deadly and catastrophic Eaton and Palisades fires and continues with mass deportations that the Trump administration vows to escalate.
That's where the rub came for Sarmiento and other Dodgers fans. For them, the actions and inactions of the team this year have been indefensible.
"For me, it started when the Dodgers went to the White House," said the 45-year-old as we drove to their blue-and-white house. She especially took issue with shortstop Mookie Betts, who skipped a White House visit in 2019 when he was with the World Series-winning Boston Red Sox but shook Trump's hand this time around, describing his previous snub as "very selfish."
"Who got in his ear?" she exclaimed, bringing out dried mangoes for us to snack on as we waited for Sims to come home. "Since when has standing up for injustice been about you?"
Sarmiento didn't grow up a Dodgers fan but bought into the team once she and Sims became a couple. They and their two young sons usually attended Dodgers games on trips back home and regularly caught the Dodgers in Milwaukee whenever they played the Brewers. One time, manager Dave Roberts "happily" signed a jersey for them when the family ran into him at a hotel, Sarmiento said.
In Madison, she long wore a Dodgers sweatshirt emblazoned with the Mexican flag that Sims bought for her because "it was a way to represent home. But not anymore. I tell Revel, 'Babe, I'm not asking you to boycott the Dodgers forever, but they gotta give us something back.'"
Sure, the Dodgers blocked federal agents from entering the Dodger Stadium parking lot in June just after la migra raided a Home Depot facility. Shortly after, the team donated $1 million to the California Community Foundation to disburse to nonprofits assisting families affected by Trump's deportation Leviathan.
But as the summer went along, Sarmiento grew frustrated that only Dodgers outfielder Kiké Hernández spoke out against immigration raids and Trump's deployment of the Marines and National Guard. She also wondered why Dodgers chairman Mark Walter wouldn't address charges that companies he has investments in do business with Trump's deportation machine. One has a stake in a private prison company that contracts with the federal government to run immigrant detention centers; another has a joint venture with Palantir, which ICE has contracted to create data surveillance systems that would make the Eye of Sauron from "The Lord of the Rings" series seem as innocuous as a teddy bear.
"After a while, it's like a woman who knows her partner is a cheater but keeps saying, 'He's not a cheater, he's not a cheater' and then gets upset when he cheats on her again. At that point, all you can say is, 'Girl...'"
I brought up how many Dodgers fans I know saw the team's World Series win as a giant middle finger to Trump.
The heroes of Games 6 and 7, outfielders Kiké Hernández and second baseman Miguel Rojas, come respectively from Puerto Rico and Venezuela, a commonwealth Trump has neglected and a country he's salivating to invade. The team's most popular player, Shohei Ohtani, still proudly speaks in his native Japanese despite being in the U.S. for eight years and knowing some English. Tens of thousands of fans came out for the Dodgers victory parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium, many of them undoubtedly immigrants.
Isn't it OK to let folks be happy?
"It's like community benefit agreements," Sarmiento responded, referring to a tactic by neighborhood groups that sees them win commitments from developers on issues like open space, union contracts and affordable housing with the threat of protests and lawsuits. "You know what's coming, so you try to get something out of it. This year was a political moment that fans could've taken and they didn't, so the Dodgers gave nothing."
We greeted Sims as he walked in. The two of us walked down to the basement, where he watched the World Series in exile on a big-screen TV.
"It's a little lonely being a Dodgers fan out here," joked the 48-year-old, although he was heartened to have seen a fellow University of Wisconsin professor decked out in a Freddie Freeman jersey earlier in the day. Sims grew up going to Dodger Stadium with his father and remembered going to games on his own in the mid-2000s "when it wasn't a pretty time."
He brought up the Dodgers' owner from that era: Frank McCourt, who raised ticket and concession prices seemingly every year and who still partially owns the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium. Fans responded to his disastrous regime by protesting before and during games. "It was disheartening to not see that in the stadium this year, when there was an even bigger problem going on."
Sims felt "conflicted" rooting for the Dodgers this year. He watched every game he could but admitted he found the team celebrating ethnic pride nights "hollow" as raids increased across Los Angeles and the Trump administration attacked the rights of groups that the Dodgers were honoring.
"It would've been easy [for the Dodgers] to make a bland statement — 'We're a team full of immigrants in a city of immigrants and we're proud of us all' — and you wouldn't have to go any further. They have a historical obligation to do that because of their history."
But not rooting for the Dodgers was never an option.
Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto stands onstage at the World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium on Monday. (Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
"I want to see L.A. people happy. The parade! It's a free holiday. People just ditch work and don't get in trouble for it. We're the only city — not New York, not Boston, not San Francisco — with a chant against us. We're despised and misunderstood. So if the Dodgers win, L.A. wins."
Sarmiento joined us. "She's my better political half," Sims cracked. "Caro said to pick another sport."
"No I didn't!" she kindly replied. "I just said to take a pause, just for now. A political pause."
Sims admitted that that a vintage jacket that he used to bring out every October as the Dodgers made another playoff run and Wisconsin turns cold was still in the closet. "I haven't worn any gear all year."
"When you went to the game!" Sarmiento shot back, referring to a visit to Milwaukee earlier this year with his local softball team.
"I went with a Valenzuela jersey to represent L.A.," Sims responded as Sarmiento shook her head.
He laughed.
"I love the team. I just don't like this team for not saying anything. But it's what I signed up for."
CHICAGO — Left-hander Shota Imanaga became eligible for free agency when the Chicago Cubs declined an option to keep his contract by guaranteeing $57 million for the 2026-28 seasons and he turned down a $15.25 million option for 2026, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the decisions.
Imanaga agreed in January 2024 to a contract guaranteeing $53 million. He wound up earning $23.25 million over two seasons, including a $250,000 escalator for 2025 by finishing fourth in 2024 NL Cy Young Award voting.
Chicago had to decide whether to exercise its option for $20.25 million each in 2026 and ’27 and $17.25 million in 2028, figures that increase by $250,000 each because of the escalator.
Once the team declined, he had the decision on a 2026 option. If he had exercised that option, it would have triggered club options for $24.25 million in 2027 and $15.25 million in 2028.
The Cubs could still extend Imanaga a qualifying offer of $22,025,000 for 2026. If he declines and signs with another team before the amateur draft, the Cubs would receive a draft pick as compensation.
Imanaga, 32, was an All-Star in 2024, when he went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
He was 9-8 with a 3.73 ERA in 25 starts this year, when he was sidelined between May 24 and June 26 by a strained left hamstring.
The 9-3-0 Winnipeg Jets have hit the ice in Los Angeles for their morning skate in advance of their late-night contest against the 5-4-4 Kings.
Hopefully, sleep isn't something you plan to get much of over the next two weeks, as the Jets have begun their lengthiest road trip of the season, and it is all within the NHL's westernmost cities - meaning much later start (and end) times than are typical of Winnipeg's 7:00 PM central home puck drops.
The Jets will kick things off against Los Angeles at 9:30 PM on Tuesday, before facing the Sharks at 9:00 PM on Friday. They will wrap up their California swing against the Ducks at 9:00 PM on Sunday, before heading further north to Vancouver for a 9:00 PM start on Tuesday. They conclude the six-game heater with 9:00 PM starts against Seattle and Calgary next week on Thursday and Saturday.
Winnipeg will finally return home on November 18 to host the Columbus Blue Jackets before Nikolaj Ehlers returns to Manitoba on Friday the 21st.
The Jets will look a little different on this road trip - maybe even from game to game.
The biggest news on the injury front is that captain Adam Lowry has recovered from offseason hip surgery and is set to make his season debut. Fellowed injured running mates Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg are both getting close to their returns, but head coach Scott Arniel says they will still need a bit more time.
Morgan Barron and Gustav Nyquist who are now both injured from incidents during gameplay are each expected to sit out at least the first game or two of the trip.
Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Tuesday, November 4 vs. the Los Angeles Kings:
The Winnipeg Jets begin their California road trip on Tuesday with an opening matchup against the LA Kings, who are looking to bounce back after losing three of their last five games. The contest will be particularly notable for Jets fans, as it marks the return of captain Adam Lowry, who has been sidelined since offseason hip surgery. Lowry will look to help the Jets secure two much-needed points as they sit just one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the top spot in the Central Division.
The Kings, meanwhile, are focused on the playoffs. Sitting one point out of a wild card position, they will be eager for a win to get back into the postseason picture. This game will be the 49th all-time meeting between the Jets and Kings. Los Angeles holds the advantage in the series with a 25-14-9 record, strengthened by victories in six of their last nine matchups against Winnipeg.
The most obvious storyline surrounding the Jets organization is the return of Adam Lowry, but beneath that is an interesting subplot involving who will play alongside him. His signature third-line trio is no longer intact, as longtime Jet Mason Appleton departed in free agency, leaving a vacancy on the right wing. Lowry will continue to center Nino Niederreiter on the left, and for the first game, it appears Tanner Pearson will take over the right side.
Pearson is not the same physical, net-front presence that Appleton was, but he should complement the line’s puck movement more effectively. The previous unit was successful because of its ability to shut down opponents’ top lines while also contributing timely offense. One memorable example came when Lowry scored the game-winning goal in Winnipeg’s Game 7 victory over the St. Louis Blues in last year’s first round.
This new version of the line may lean more toward generating offense. Lowry will continue to provide his steady and defensively responsible play down the middle, a quality that remains underrated across the league. Pearson’s experience and puck-handling ability should help improve puck possession and flow alongside Niederreiter, even if the group loses some of the grit and forechecking intensity that defined the old trio.
The bottom line was also be a point of focus as the rookie duo of Parker Ford and Brad Lambert recreated a moment out of their days with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL as the duo combined on the Jets' second goal in their 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday for Lambert's first goal of his career. The hope is they can continue to quietly produce together in clutch spots like they did on Saturday.
In Los Angeles, this could be one of the final chances for Winnipeg fans to see veteran center Anze Kopitar in action. The longtime Kings captain is set to retire after this season, closing out a remarkable career highlighted by two Stanley Cup championships. Kopitar is skating alongside several new additions to the Kings’ roster, including seasoned veterans Corey Perry, Joel Armia, Brian Dumoulin, and Cody Ceci, all acquired through free agency. However, the defensive results have been disappointing.
Once known as a defensive powerhouse similar to the Jets, Los Angeles has struggled in its own zone. Dumoulin has been on the ice for 12 goals against, with nine coming at even strength and three on the power play. Ceci has surrendered nine at even strength and two more while short-handed. Another veteran defenseman, Joel Edmundson, has been on for nine goals against as well, split between five on the power play and four at even strength. Even with goals scored while they are on the ice balancing out their plus/minus ratings somewhat, Ceci still holds the worst even-strength goal differential on the team at minus five, with Dumoulin close behind at minus four.
What was once a marquee defensive matchup between two elite teams now looks different, as Winnipeg will try to take advantage of the Kings’ current struggles in their own end.
The Kings are coming off back-to-back losses and will need to bring their intensity on Tuesday to bounce back. Earlier this season, their defense surrendered three goals to the Jets, and over the past ten games, they’ve allowed 29 goals. Much of that total stems from three games in which they gave up four goals each against the Blues, Blackhawks, and Stars. Outside of those matchups, the Kings have still conceded four or more goals in six of the remaining ten games. Vezina finalist Darcy Kuemper has struggled as well, posting a 3-3-3 record with a .891 save percentage this season. If the Jets can capitalize, the Kings will need to respond quickly.
Recent matchups between Winnipeg and Los Angeles have been low-scoring affairs, with under six total goals in four straight meetings. Tuesday’s game, however, feels poised to break that trend. Offensively, the Kings have scored 23 goals in their last eight games, hitting the three-goal mark in six of those contests. Historically, LA has also found ways to penetrate Winnipeg’s stingy defense, outscoring the Jets 36-28 in their last ten encounters.
Much of the Kings’ offensive firepower comes from Adrian Kempe. Although he has just five goals this season, he also has ten assists for 15 points in 13 games. Kempe has consistently torched Winnipeg, tallying four goals and five assists for nine points in his last five matchups, including four consecutive multi-point games with a goal in each.
Winnipeg will counter with the league’s top scorer, center Mark Scheifele, who has nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 12 games. The 32-year-old from Kitchener has historically performed well against the Kings, recording eight goals and six assists for 14 points in his last 13 games versus LA.
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Micky van den Ven scored an amazing solo goal for Spurs, while Luis Diaz hit two and was sent off for Bayern in Paris
Thomas Frank has called for better support from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd after revealing that Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence had apologised to him for their reaction to the 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.
Van de Ven and Spence were incensed when the full-time whistle sounded and the Spurs fans booed, as they had done at half-time with their team trailing to João Pedro’s 34th‑minute goal. The defenders stormed past Frank towards the tunnel, ignoring their manager’s attempts to get them to acknowledge the supporters in the South Stand – a bad look at the end of another bad Premier League day at the stadium.
